Tornado rips roofs off homes in southern French town

A tornado tore through the southern French village of Pomas, located at the foot of the Pyrenees, causing extensive damage and injuring at least 26 people. The twister hit the village, home to about 1,000 residents, on Monday, ripping roofs off houses and destroying around 300 homes.

More than 120 rescue workers were deployed to the affected area. Reports on the number of injured varied, with AFP stating 41 people were hurt and dpa reporting 26. Several of the injured were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Emergency accommodations have been set up for residents whose homes were damaged.

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According to AFP, around 300 homes were destroyed by the tornado, and in some cases, roofs were torn off the houses.

The severe weather also impacted wider southern France, with a storm warning in effect. Approximately 2,800 households experienced power outages across ten villages, and fallen branches blocked several roads. The disruptions extended to transportation, causing delays and cancellations at airports in Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, and Toulouse, as well as further north in Paris. The third stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race was also canceled 17 kilometers from its finish line in southern France due to heavy hail.

Tornadoes are not uncommon in France. Last year, a tornado north of Paris resulted in one fatality, and in 2008, a powerful tornado in Hautmont, northern France, claimed three lives.

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According to the news agency dpa, 26 people were injured by the tornado. AFP puts the number of injured at 41.